Residents in BIrmingham city centre are raising a petition over plans to turn part of their street into a bus only zone.

The residents of Sheepcote Street are angry at the changes being introduced ahead of the construction of the Metro tram line along Broad Street.

With work due to start within weeks warning signs are already in place.

They claim it will divert traffic and increase congestion on side roads like St Vincent Street and Browning Street adding to existing problems and have launched a petition against the plan.

The city council announced earlier this year that it was planning to re-route buses around Broad Street and surrounding areas this summer as work on the Broad Street Metro line is due to start in September.

The plans include installing a bus only gate and lane near on Sheepcote Street near to the entrance of the Arena Birmingham car park.

Dozens have signed the petition, started by resident Jaccy Gasgoyne, which states: "f traffic is diverted away from Sheepcote Street, passing instead down St Vincent Street, this will greatly increase the volume of traffic passing down Browning Street. "

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"Browning Street is a residential road, with cars parked at every opportunity, a handful of give way areas, and a significant bend, which cars tend to drive round at speed.

Congestion on Ryland Street (Image: Jaccy Gasgoyne)

"Local residents have already been involved in a number of collisions,as well as near misses, along this road, and increasing the volume of traffic utilising this road will only exacerbate this problem."

At the time Laura Shoaf, managing director of Transport for West Midlands said: “The Midland Metro extension along Broad Street is going to transform public transport in this part of Birmingham, but while construction takes place we need to make sure buses can continue to operate."